*+𝓓𝓻𝓪𝓻𝓻𝔂 𝓞𝓷𝓮𝓢𝓱𝓸𝓽𝓼+* ✔

Beautiful

"See! There he is again! This is the fifth night in a row Malfoy has broke into the potions classroom after curfew!"

Harry pointed out Draco Malfoy's name on the Marauders Map. He was indeed, in the potions room. Ron just stared at his friend.

"Mate, you know your my best friend, but I gotta be honest, it's 2 a.m and if Malfoy wants to stay up all night studying, that's on him. I would much rather be in bed. Night!"

Ron pulled him covers over his head while Harry tried to pull them off. "Ron! This could be serious! What if Draco is brewing something bad?"

Ron pointed his head out of his blanket burrito. "You have an invisibility cloak. You apparently don't need a good nights rest. So you can go obsess over Malfoy."

Harry blushed, though it was hardly noticeable in the dark. "I do not obsess over Malfoy."

"Uh-huh." Ron said, sinking deeper under the covers. "And I'm not in love with Hermione. Off you go, mate.

...

Harry did just as Ron suggested, throwing on his cloak and sneaking into the dungeons. Draco was still there, stirring who knows what in a cauldron. I knew it! Harry thought. But what the potion was, he had no clue.

Harry's eyes drifted over to the table next to Draco. It was covered in ingredients. Rose petals, unicorn hair, fairy wings, and a bunch of other things. Harry wasn't the greatest at potions. He had no clue what those ingredients made. I'll ask Hermione, Harry figured, she'll know for sure.

...

"Rose petals... fairy wings...hm. What else did you see, Harry?"

Harry racked his brain, trying to remember. He wasted no time, going to Hermione during breakfast to ask about Malfoy's potions. "Um, lady's mantle, ginger root and... water?"

Hermione nodded. "I'm thinking that water is morning dew, which makes the most sense given the rest of the ingredients. It sounds like Malfoy was brewing a beautification potion. Though, that was pretty obvious. He has been looking more... attractive lately."

Harry looked over at the Slytherin table and frowned. "What are you talking about? Malfoy looks exactly the same?"

Hermione opened her mouth like she wanted to say something, then decided against it. "Whatever the case is, Malfoy has been using the potion on himself, even if you don't see it."

Harry looked over at the Slytherin table once more. He couldn't help but take notice of all the girls surrounding him. They were clearly flirting, something that made Harry upset. But why? Whatever, it didn't matter. Harry wanted answers.

That night, when Draco's name showed up on the map again, Harry went to the dungeons once again. Draco was brewing the same potion as before. This time, however, Harry wasn't the only one who caught him.

"Ahem."

Harry jumped from underneath the cloak. Draco was startled too, dropped the tuft of unicorn hair he was holding. 

Snape stood at the doorway, staring right at Harry. He had to remind himself that he was invisible, and that Snape was actually looking through him at Draco. He scurried out of the way before Snape walked right into him.

"Draco," Snape said, his voice actually sounding sympathetic. "You said you would stop last time."

Draco hesitated, picking up the hair he dropped. "I- I know but I ran out and I just... couldn't bring myself to leave my room without it."

Snape sighed and took a step towards Draco. Harry wasn't sure what was happening at first, until Snape wrapped his arms around Draco.

It was a hug.

Harry has never seen Snape show real compassion before. He, along with pretty much anyone, know Snape favored Draco, but Harry never knew the real extent of that.

While Harry couldn't see it, he could hear Draco sobbing into Snape's shoulder. Harry was confused. Why did Malfoy need a beautification potion this badly? He was plenty beautiful in Harry's eyes (not that it meant anything). And how long has this been going on?

After Draco collected himself, Snape allowed him to finish his potion, only because he was already far in the brewing process, and Snape can't stand to watch good ingredients go to waste. Harry, unfortunately, had to wait until they were done, since Snape closed the door when he entered.

When Draco did finish, he downed one of the potions. Harry wasn't sure it worked. Malfoy seemed to glow more, making him more noticeable, Harry figured, but other than that, he looked exactly the same. Draco thanked Snape and left, leaving the door open. Harry was about to sneak out too, when he was stopped.

"It's quite rude to eavesdrop, Potter."

Harry winced, taking off the cloak. "How long have you known?"

"Since I came down here." Snape stated, putting away Draco cauldron. "You're not as short as you used to be. Your bunny slippers stick out."

Harry looked down realizing he was, in fact wearing bunny slippers.

He mumbled a small apology, and turned to leave.

"Do me a favor, Harry." Snape said. He must me serious, Harry thought. He never calls me by my first name.

"Don't go telling anyone what you saw here tonight. About Draco and the potions."

Harry nodded. "I just don't understand, professor. Why does Draco think he needs to be prettier?"

"Insecurities. Draco doesn't understand his self worth. He was raised under the implication that if he wasn't perfect in every way, he was useless. Draco seems to think his looks are the things that are lacking."

Harry pondered for a moment. "But... the potion didn't even work. He looked exactly the same just now!"

Snape gave Harry the same look Hermione had given him earlier today: the 'I want to say something, but it's none of my business' look. Unlike Hermione, Snape actually spoke.

"Potter, the amortentia potion smells like the  person you're attracted to. The beautification potion makes the drinker look more attractive depending on what you find attractive. So if Draco takes the potion and you think he looks the same..."

Snape trailed off, waiting for Harry to fill in the blanks. It took Harry a moment, so long that Snape sighs in exasperation, clearly annoyed with Harry's denseness.

"Potter! You are attracted to Draco! Honestly, how thick is your head?"

"What I'm not..." Then Harry stopped, thinking about all his past interactions with Draco. How he noticed small things about Malfoy, like the way he parted his fluffy blonde hair. How he tucks in his shirt, showing off his perfect build. How, even when he's insulting Harry, Draco still manages to look so beautiful. "Oh, Merlin's beard I like Draco."

Snape hummed in response, ushering Harry out the door. "I'm so glad this conversation has been so enlightening for you. I, however, am done playing the 'supportive teacher'. It's exhausting, Potter. Oh, and -15 points Gryffindor, for being out of bed after curfew."

...

That morning, Draco got up, the effects of the potion still faintly on him. He was going to need another for class. He opened the bottom drawer of his nightstand, where he kept his potion stash, to find a note.

Dear Draco,
I hope you know how beautiful you are. You don't need these potions. Really. I can't force you to stop taking them, but I just need to make sure you know that you are, by far, the pretty boy I've ever seen. At least, to me.
F̶r̶o̶m̶
Love, Harry

...

This book is off of hiatus now. I only put it on hold because I was focused on finishing a different book of mine. Now that it's done, I can work on this and my Solangelo one-shot book some more.